Device of multi-channel rotary head type having function to discriminate recorded state

ABSTRACT

A rotary type recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided with a rotary head which is arranged to record and/or reproduce information signals individually on or from a plurality of parallel areas longitudinally extending on a tape-shaped recorded bearing medium by obliquely transversely tracing the plurality of areas; a first detection circuit which is arranged to at least partially detect signals produced from the rotary head; a second detection circuit which is arranged to detect the rotation phase of the rotary head; and an arrangement for outputting a plurality of binary signals which respectively indicate whether the information signals are recorded or not in at least two of the plurality of areas according to the outputs of the first and second detection circuits.

This is a continuation application of Ser. No. 774,495, filed Sept. 12,1985, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a rotary head type recording and/orreproducing apparatus, and, more particularly, to an apparatus arrangedto record and/or reproduce information signals by rotary headsindividually on or from a plurality of parallel areas longitudinallyextending on a tape-shaped record bearing medium.

2. Description of the Prior Art

High density recording has recently become a subject of pursuit in thefield of magnetic recording. Video tape recorders (hereinafter referredto as VTR's) also have become capable of performing magnetic recordingto a higher degree of density with the travelling speed of the tapelowered. Therefore, the conventional arrangement of using a fixed headfor audio signal recording does not give a sufficiently high relativespeed and thus results in the degradation of reproduced sound quality.In one of the solutions of this problem, the recording tracks formed bya rotary head are lengthened to have audio signals, which are compressedon the time base, recorded in the lengthened portion of the recordingtracks one after another.

In the case of a VTR of the two-rotary-head helical scanning type, forexample, a magnetic recording tape has been arranged to be wrapped atleast 180 degrees around a rotary cylinder. Then, a VTR of this type hasbeen contrived, according to the above-stated solution, wherein themagnetic recording tape is wrapped at least (180+θ) degrees around therotary cylinder; and time-base compressed audio signals, which are pulsecode modulated, are recorded in the additional portion of 0 degree. FIG.1 of the accompanying drawings schematically shoWs the tape transportsystem of the above-stated VTR. FIG. 2 shows recording tracks formed ona magnetic tape by the VTR of FIG. 1. The illustration includes amagnetic tape 1; a rotary cylinder 2; heads 3 and 4 which are mountedwith a phase difference of 180 degrees on the cylinder 2 and haveazimuth angles, different from each other; video signal recording areas5 formed on the tape 1; and audio signal recording areas 6 formed alsoon the tape 1. Each of the video areas 5 is formed with the 180 degreewrapped portion of the tape 1 on the rotary cylinder 2 traced by theheads 3 and 4. Each of the audio areas 6 is formed with the angle 0degree portion of the tape wrapped the cylinder 2 traced by the heads 3and 4. In FIG. 2, reference symbols f1 to f4 represent the frequencyvalues of tracking pilot signals superimposed on the recording tracks inaccordance with a known four-frequency method. The frequency values ofthese pilot signals are in the following relation: f2-f1=f3-f4≈fH andf4-f2≈2fH, wherein fH represents the horizontal scanning frequency ofthe video signal.

With the audio signal, which is compressed on the time base and is pulsecode modulated (hereinafter referred to as PCM processed), recorded inthe audio areas, the audio signal can be reproduced with a high soundquality, which is comparable with the quality attainable by an audioapparatus which is adapted specially for recording and reproduction ofan analog signal.

Meanwhile, there has been proposed a method of recording additionalaudio signals also in the video areas 5 of the VTR of the above-statedtype. This method is as follows: Assuming that the angle 8 is arrangedto be θ=36 degrees, five additional audio areas are obtainable with therotary head rotated 180 degrees. Then, an arrangement to have time-basecompressed audio signals recorded independently in these areas enablesaudio signals to be recorded in six channels. Thus, an audio dedicatedor appropriated tape recorder can be arranged to be capable of recordingaudio signals in six channels. The following briefly describes this taperecorder

FIG. 3 shows the tape transport system of the above-stated tape recorderFIG. 4 shows recording tracks formed on a tape by this tape recorder Thesame reference numerals and symbols are used as in FIGS. 1 and 2. Whilethe head 3 or 4 traces distances from a point A to a point B, from thepoint B to a point C, from the point C to a point D, from the point D toa point E, from the point E to a point F and from the point F to anotherpoint G, audio signals can be recorded in areas CH1 to CH6. These areasCH1 to CH6 thus can be used for recording different audio signalstherein respectively. An operation called azimuth-overwrite is performedon these areas. However, the tracks of these areas CH1-CH6 do not haveto be on the same straight line Each of the areas CH1-CH6 has one pilotsignal recorded therein for tracking control. Different pilot signalsare thus recorded in different areas in the order of rotationf1→f2→f3→f4. However, there is no correlation between them.

Referring further to FIG. 3, recording or reproduction is carried out inor from these areas CH1 to CH3 while the tape 1 is travelling at apredetermined speed in the direction of arrow 7, and in or from theareas CH4 to CH6 while the tape is travelling in the direction of arrow9. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the inclination of the areas CH1 toCH3 somewhat differs from that of the areas CH4 to CH6. With regard to adifference in the relative speed of the tape and the head for thesegroups of areas, a difference arising from the travel of the tape 1 isextremely small as compared with a difference arising from the rotationof the heads 3 and 4. Therefore, the difference in the relative speedpresents no problem.

FIGS. 5(a) to 5(j) show, in a time chart, the recording or reproducingoperation of the tape recorder which is arranged as described above. Aphase detection pulse (hereinafter referred to as a PG signal), which isgenerated in synchronism with the rotation of the cylinder 2, is shownat FIG. 5(a). This first PG signal is of a rectangular wave of 30 Hzrepeating a high level (hereinafter referred to as an H level) and a lowlevel (hereinafter referred to as an L level) alternately with eachother at intervals of 1/60 sec. A second PG signal which is of theopposite polarity to the first PG signal of FIG. 5(a), is shown in FIG.5(b). The first PG signal is at an H level while the head 3 is rotatingfrom the point B to the point G of FIG. 3. The second PG signal shown inFIG. 5(b) is at an H level while the other head 4 is rotating from thepoint B to the point G.

Pulses for reading data are obtained from the first PG signal of FIG.5(a) as shown in FIG. 5(c). The data reading pulses are used forsampling the audio signal of a period corresponding to one field (1/60sec). FIG. 5(d) shows, by H level parts thereof periods provided forsignal processing on the one field portion of the sampled audio data byadding an error correcting redundant code or by changing the arrangementthereof by means of a RAM or the like. FIG. 5(e) shows a signalindicating data recording periods at H level parts thereof whichrepresent timing for recording, on the tape 1, the recording dataobtained through the signal processing operation mentioned above.

Referring to FIGS. 5(a) to 5(j), the temporal flow of signals are, forexample, as follows: The data, sampled during a period from a point oftime t1 to a point of time t3, i.e. while the head 3 is moving from thepoint B to the point G, is subjected to a signal processing operationduring a period from the point of time t3 to a point of time t5, i.e.while the head 3 is moving from the point G to the point A and are thenrecorded during a period from the point of time t5 to a point of timet6, or while the head 3 is moving from the point A to the point B. Inother words, the data is recorded by the head 3 in the area CH1 as shownin FIG. 4. Meanwhile, the data, which is sampled while the second PGsignal of FIG. 5(b) is at an H level, is also processed at a similartiming before it is recorded in the area CH1 by the head 4.

FIG. 5(f) shows a third PG signal which is obtained by shifting thephase of the first PG signal of FIG. 5(a) to a predetermined degree,which corresponds to one area and is 36 degrees in this specificinstance.

An audio signal recording operation using the third PG signal of FIG.5(f) another PG signal, which is not shown but is of an oppositepolarity to the former, is performed in the following manner: The data,which is sampled during a period between the points of time t2 and t4,is subjected to a signal processing operation during a period betweenthe points of time t4 and t6 in accordance with the signal of FIG. 5(g)and is recorded during a period between the points of time t6 and t7 inaccordance with the signal of FIG. 5(h). In other words, the data isrecorded in the area CH2 of FIG. 4 while the head is moving from thepoint B to the point C. Meanwhile, another data, which is sampled duringthe points of time t4 and t7, is likewise recorded in the area CH2 bymeans of the other head during a period between the points of time t4and t7.

The signal which is recorded in the area CH2 in the manner as describedabove is reproduced in the following manner:

The head 3 reads the data from the tape 1 in according with the signalshown in FIG. 5(h) during the period between the points of time t6 andt7 (and also during the period between the points of time t1 and t2).Then, during the period between the points of time t7 and t8 also(between t2 and t3), the reproduced signal is subjected to a signalprocessing operation which is carried out, in a manner reverse to thesignal processing operation performed for recording, in accordance witha signal shown in FIG. 5(i). In other words, error correction and otherprocesses are carried out during this period. Then, during a periodbetween points of time t8 and t9, the reproduced audio signal which hasbeen thus processed is produced in accordance with a signal shown inFIG. 5(j). The reproducing operation of the head 4 is of courseperformed with a phase difference of 180 degrees from the above-statedreproduction by the head 3, so that a continuous reproduced audio signalcan be obtained

For the other areas CH3 to CH6, it goes without saying that therecording and reproducing operation are performed on the basis of thefirst PG signal of FIG. 5(a) by phase shifting it as much as n X 36degrees. This is independent of the travelling direction of the tape.

The prior art arrangement described above thus permits use of a VTR asan apparatus of multiple channel arrangement adapted solely for audiosignal recording and/or reproduction. However, it is a problem with sucha multi-channel audio-dedicated apparatus that the operating conditionsof the plurality of divided channels cannot A readily be grasped. Itindeed takes an excessively long period of time to reproduce the recordfrom all the areas CH1 to CH6 one after another. It is quite troublesomefor the users to find out whether these areas have been recorded on ornot by carrying out tracking control for every one of these areas oneafter another. Hence, the prior art arrangement described has beenhardly practicable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the background situations described above, it is an object ofthe present invention to provide a recording and/or reproducingapparatus which is capable of enabling the users to readily grasp therecorded conditions of information signals on a record bearing medium.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rotary head typerecording and/or reproducing apparatus which is capable of promptlydiscriminating the recorded conditions of information signals in aplurality of areas arranged on a tape-shaped record bearing medium inparallel with each other and extending in the longitudinal direction ofthe medium.

Under this object, a rotary head type recording and/or reproducingapparatus arranged according to this invention as an embodiment thereofcomprises: rotary heads for recording and/or reproducing informationsignals individually in or from a plurality of parallel areas extendingin the longitudinal direction of a tape-shaped record bearing medium,the heads being arranged to trace the medium in such a manner as totraverse said plurality of areas; first detection means for at leastpartially detecting the output signals of the rotary heads; seconddetection means for detecting the rotation phase of the rotary heads;and discriminating means for discriminating the recorded conditions ofthe information signals in the plurality of areas according to outputsof the first and second detection means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rotary head typerecording and/or reproducing apparatus which is capable ofsimultaneously recognizing the recorded conditions of informationsignals recorded in a plurality of areas arranged in parallel with eachother on a tape-shaped record bearing medium and extending in thelongitudinal direction of the medium.

Under that object, a rotary head type recording and/or reproducingapparatus arranged according to this invention as an embodiment thereofcomprises: rotary heads for recording and/or reproducing informationsignals individually in or from a plurality of areas of a tape-shapedrecord bearing medium which are in parallel with each other and areextending in the longitudinal direction of the medium, the rotary headsbeing arranged to trace the tape-shaped medium in such a manner as totraverse the plurality of parallel areas; discriminating means fordiscriminating the recorded conditions of the information signals in theplurality of areas according to the output signals of the rotary heads;and data output means for producing a plurality of data which areindicative of the recorded conditions of the plurality of areas and areobtained from the discriminating means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rotary head typerecording and/or reproducing apparatus which is capable of reliablyfinding which of information signals of more than two different kinds isrecorded.

Under the above-stated object, a recording and/or reproducing apparatusarranged as an embodiment of this invention comprises: first detectionmeans for detecting which of first and second information signals isrecorded in a specific area on a record bearing medium; second detectionmeans for detecting that the first information signal is recorded in thespecific area; and means for discriminating that the second informationsignal is recorded in the specific area on the basis of outputs of thefirst and second detection means.

The above and further objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing the arrangement of the tapetransport system employed in the conventional VTR.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing recording tracks formed on amagnetic tape by the VTR shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration showing the arrangement of the tapetransport system employed in a multi-channel type tape recorder of theprior art.

FIG. 4 shows recording tracks formed on a magnetic tape by the taperecorder shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5(a) to 5(j) show in a time chart, the reocrding an reproducingoperations of the tape recorder shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of a taperecorder embodying this invention as an embodiment thereof.

FIGS. 7(a) to 7(i) show, in a timing chart, the phasic relation ofwindow and gate pulses to a PG signal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of arrangement of an areadiscrimination circuit shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 9(a) to 9(u) show, in a timing chart, the operating timing ofvarious parts of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of a taperecorder according to this invention as another embodiment thereof.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing, by way of example, the arrangement of anarea discrimination circuit included in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of arrangement of the areadiscrimination circuit shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following describes some preferred embodiments of the invention withreference to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 6 shows the outline of arrangement of a tape recorder according tothis invention as an embodiment thereof. In FIG. 6, components of therecorder similar to these shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are indicated by thesame reference numerals. A PG signal is obtained from a rotationdetector 11 which detects the rotation of a rotary cylinder 2. The PGsignal is supplied to a motor control circuit 15, which causes thecylinder 2 to rotate at a predetermined speed and also at apredetermined phase. Another rotation detector 12 is arranged to detectthe rotation of a fly-wheel 14 of a capstan 13. The output of thefly-wheel rotation detector 12 is supplied to the motor control circuit15. During a recording operation, the circuit 15 controls the capstan 13to have it rotate at a predetermined speed.

The above-stated PG signal is supplied also to a window pulse generatingcircuit 16 and a gate pulse generating circuit 17. The phasic relationof window and gate pulses generated by these circuits 16 and 17 to thePG signal is as shown in the timing chart of FIGS. 7(a) to 7(i). FIG.7(a) shows the PG signal. The PG signal is at a high level while a head3 is moving from the point B to another point G shown in FIG. 3. FIGS.7(b) to 7(g) respectively show window pulses which indicate recordingand reproducing timing in and from the areas CH1 to CH6. In FIGS. 7(a)to 7(i), full lines indicate signals relative to the head 3 while brokenlines indicates signals relative to another head 4.

When an operation part 18 is manually operated, an applicable area isdesignated for recording or reproduction with either a recording orreproducing operation mode also designated by the manual operation.Then, an area designation circuit 19 supplies an area designation datathus obtained to the gate pulse generating circuit 17. The circuit 17generates a desired gate pulse signal.

A gate circuit 20 is arranged to have one of the above-stated windowpulses of FIGS. 7(b) to 7(g) selectively supplied thereto on the basisof the area designation data as control gate pulse for each of the heads3 and 4. Assuming that the area CH2, which is shown in FIG. 4, isdesignated, the gate circuit 20 comes under the control of the windowpulse of FIG. 7(c).

During a recording operation, an analog audio signal, coming via aterminal 21, is sampled by a PCM audio circuit 22 at a timing accordingto the window pulse of FIG. 7(c). The sampled signal becomes a digitaldata and is subjected to the above-stated signal processing operation.The audio signal is thus processed to become an audio data forrecording. A pilot signal generating circuit 23 is arranged to generatetracking pilot signals of different frequency values f1, f2, f3 and f4in the order of rotation of f1→f2→f3→f4. Meanwhile, an oscillator 60generates another pilot signal having a predetermined frequency value off5. An adder 61 adds the signal of the frequency f5 to each of the pilotsignals of frequency values f1 to f4 to produce mixed signals. Then,another adder 24 adds each of the mixed signals to the recording audiodata produced from the PCM audio circuit 22. The output of the adder 24is appropriately gated by the gate circuit 20, as mentioned in theforegoing, and is written into the area CH2 by the heads 3 and 4. Thus,in addition to the tracking pilot signals, the pilot signal of frequencyf5 is recorded also together with the PCM audio signal. The above-statedfrequency f5 must be arranged to be unaffected by the azimuth angle andto be lower the frequency band associated with the above-stated PCMaudio signal.

In the case of reproduction, the signal reproduced by the heads 3 and 4is supplied to a low-pass filer (hereinafter referred to as LPF) 25 andto the PCM audio circuit 22 via the gate circuit 20 also according tothe window pulses of FIG. 7(c). In this instance, unlike in the case ofrecording, the PCM audio circuit 22 performs a signal processingoperation including an error correcting process, a time-base extendingprocess, a digital-to-analog conversion process, etc., to obtain areproduced analog audio signal, which is produced from a terminal 21a.

The LPF 25 is arranged to separate the above-stated pilot signals fortracking and to supply them to an ATF circuit 26. The ATF circuit 26 isarranged to give a tracking error signal operating in accordance with aknown four-frequency method. In other words, the ATF circuit uses thereproduced tracking pilot signals and also pilot signals which aregenerated by the pilot signal generating circuit 23 in the same order ofrotation as in the case of recording in a well known manner. A trackingerror signal which is thus obtained is supplied to the motor controlcircuit 15. With the error signal thus supplied, the circuit 15 performstracking control by adjusting the travelling speed of the tape 1 via thecapstan 13.

Meanwhile, a gate circuit 27 is under the control of the gate pulsesshown in FIGS. 7(h) and 7(i). In other words, signal reproduced fromareas other than the reproducing area are supplied to an areadiscrimination circuit 28.

The area discrimination circuit 28 is arranged in the following manner:FIG. 8 shows an example of arrangement of this circuit 28. FIGS. 9(a) to9(u) show, in a timing chart, the operating timing of various parts ofFIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 8, terminals 30 and 33 are arranged to receivesignals reproduced by the heads 3 and 4. Terminals 31 and 34 arearranged to receive the above-stated gate pulses of FIGS. 7(h) and 7(i).A terminal 32 is arranged to receive the PG signal.

The circuit arrangement consists of a discrimination circuit 37 for an Ahead (or the head 3); a discrimination circuit for a B head (or the head4); and a decoder 47 which is arranged to serial-to-parallel convert theoutputs of these discrimination circuits 37 and 38 and to produce themin the form of a data consisting of six bits. Since the twodiscrimination circuits 37 and 38 are arranged in the same manner, theinternal details of the circuit 38 are omitted from the followingdescription.

The operation of the area discrimination circuit 28 is as follows: Letus now assume for the sake of description that the area CH2 is the areabeing reproduced; the areas CH1, CH4 and CH6 have a signal recordedtherein; and the areas CH3 and CH5 have no signal recorded therein.

A monostable multivibrator group 42 is arranged to be triggered by therise of the PG signal which is shown in FIG. 9(a). Each member of themonostable multivibrator group 42 is arranged to have such a timeconstant that makes their outputs as shown in FIGS. 9(e) to 9(i),respectively. More specifically, assuming that a minute length of time(1/30×1/2×1/5×1/10 sec or thereabout) is Δt, the constant of each of thegroup of monostable multivibrators 42 corresponding to N-th channel (orarea) subsequent to the channel CH1, is arranged to become the time Δt(sec) when the value N is 1 and to become (N-2)/300+Δt (sec) when thevalue N is 2 or larger than 2.

Another group of monostable multivibrators 43, which are arranged to betriggered by the fall of the outputs of the monostable multivibratorgroup 42, gives six different pulses of a predetermined width. The timeconstant of each of the monostable multivibrators 43 is arranged toabout 1/60×1/5×4/5 sec. As is apparent from the waveforms shown in FIGS.9(j) to 9(q), each area can be detected at its middle point by means ofthe pulses obtained from these multivibrators 43. All the outputs of themultivibrator group 43 are supplied to an OR gate 44. Then, they aresupplied to an AND gate 45 as sampling pulses. They are also used asclock pulses from the serial-to-parallel converting operation of thedecoder 47.

The AND gate 45 obtains a logical product of the output of the OR gate44 and the gate pulse which is shown at FIG. 9(c) and is mentioned inthe foregoing. By this, recorded conditions are detected only for theareas other than the reproducing area.

Meanwhile, the reproduced signal is supplied to a band-pass filter 39(BPF) to have the pilot signal of frequency f5 separated there. Theoutput of the BPF 39, which is as shown in FIG. 9(q), is detected by adetection circuit 40 and is then compared with a reference voltage at acomparison circuit 41 The output of the comparison circuit 41 is sampledat an AND gate 46. The output thus sampled is a signal indicative of therecorded condition of each area and is as shown in FIG. 9(t). Thissignal is processed through the decoder 47 and is produced from theterminals 48→53 in the form of parallel data. In case that all the areasCH1 to CH6 have been already recorded, the levels of signals or dataproduced from these terminals 48 to 53 of the decoder 47 become a highlevel (h). If all the areas have not been recorded, the levels of allthese signals become a low level (L). These parallel data are thensupplied to a display device 29 which consists of light emitting diodes(LED's) or the like. The display device thus enables the operator toknow the recorded conditions of these areas.

With the tape recorder arranged according to this invention in themanner as described above, the recorded conditions of all the areas ofthe multi-channel arrangement can be simultaneously found.

In the embodiment described, the recorded conditions of the areas aredescribed as to be detected during reproduction. However, it goeswithout saying that the recorded conditions are likewise detectable alsoduring recording or during a high speed tape feeding operation. Further,the recording conditions can be immediately detected as long as themagnetic tape 1 is in a state traceable by the rotary heads 3 and 4.

Even in cases where neither the oscillator 60 of the frequency f5 northe adder 61 is additionally provided, the recorded conditions of allthe areas CH1 to CH6 can be likewise detected. An embodiment which isarranged in that manner is as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.

FIG. 10 shows the outline of an arrangement of a tape recorder accordingto this invention as a further embodiment thereof mentioned above. Thecomponents similar to corresponding ones shown in FIG. 6 are indicatedby the same reference numerals and details of them are omitted fromdescription here. The embodiment includes an area discrimination circuit28' which is arranged in the same manner as the area discriminationcircuit shown in FIG. 8; and a BPF 39 which is arranged to mainlyfilter, for example, an RF signal. This arrangement permits detection ofthe recorded conditions of all the areas without necessitating theadditional recording of the pilot signal of frequency f5. In this case,however, it is necessary to make the tracing width of the rotary heads 3and 4 wider than the pitch of recording tracks. Further, it is alsoconceivable to detect, by means of the area discrimination circuit 28",the tracking pilot signals instead of detecting the frequency componentf5 or the RF signal. In that instance, the above-stated tracking pilotsignal components f1, f2, f3 and f4 are separated by means of an LPF 39'which is arranged as shown in FIG. 11. In the case of FIG. 11, the areadiscrimination circuit 28' is adapted solely for audio signals. In theevent of a tape recorder designed solely for audio signals, the recordedconditions of all the areas are detectable by the arrangement of theembodiment described above. Let us now consider a video-audio taperecorder which is capable of operating as a VTR in accordance with therecording format as shown in FIG. 2 and is also capable of recording orreproducing video signals or audio signals with the audio signalrecording area 6 of FIG. 2 arranged in the same manner as the area CH1as shown in FIG. 4. In recording an audio signal, for example,individually in the area CH5 in accordance with the recording patternshown in FIG. 4, let us assume that the tape 1 has already been recordedin a manner as shown in FIG. 2. In that instance, the record in the areaCH5 is individually erased before the audio signal is recorded therein.Meanwhile, the pilot signals for tracking remain unerased in other areasCH2, CH3, CH4 and CH6.

In case that the area discrimination circuit 28' indicated in FIG. 10 isarranged with the above taken into consideration, the arrangement ofthis circuit 28' becomes as shown in FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, the samecomponent elements as those shown in FIG. 11 are indicated by the samereference numerals and the detailed description of them is omitted fromthe following description of this example:

The circuit 28' in this case includes a BPF 67 which is arranged todetect the color subcarrier wave of a video signal included in areproduced signal. Assuming that the video signal has been recorded inaccordance with the so-called low band converting method, the BPF 67 isarranged to have a passband from 600 to 800 KHz or thereabout.Meanwhile, the heads 3 and 4 are arranged to have such azimuth anglesthat are having no adverse effect on the band of about 600 to 800 KHz.

The low band color subcarrier component, which is detected by the BPF67, is detected by a detection circuit 68 and is then supplied to acomparison circuit 69 to be compared with a reference voltage. Variableresistors 63 and 64 and fixed resistors 65 and 66 form a pair of voltagedividers, which are arranged to divide a voltage Vref' indicated in thedrawing. They provide different reference voltages to comparisoncircuits 41 and 69 in such a way as to compensate for a differencebetween the recording level of the pilot signals for tracking and thatof the low band converting color subcarrier wave.

Assuming that a tracking pilot signal and a color subcarrier wave aredetected from a specific area, the circuit 28' judges that no PCM audiosignal is recorded. If the color subcarrier wave is not detected whilethe tracking pilot signal is detected, a PCM audio signal is consideredto be recorded in that area. Accordingly, the output of a logic gate 70comes to indicate the recorded condition of the PCM audio signal in eachof the areas in a time sharing manner. Then, parallel data are producedfrom the terminals 48 to 53 of the decoder 47 in the same manner as inthe case of the preceding example shown in FIG. 11.

In the case of the example shown in FIG. 12, the discrimination as towhether a video signal has been recorded or not is accomplished bydetecting the color subcarrier wave. However, this arrangement may bereplaced with a different arrangement in which the same discriminationis accomplished by detecting any other frequency component that ispeculiar to the video signal.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rotary head type recording and/or reproducingapparatus, comprising:(a) head means for recording and/or reproducinginformation signals individual in or from a plurality of parallel areasextending in the longitudinal direction of a tape-shaped record bearingmedium, said head medium, said head means including a rotary head whichis arranged to trace said medium in such a manner as to obliquelytraverse said plurality of areas; (b) first detection means for at leastplurality detecting signals produced from said rotary head; (c) seconddetection means for detecting the rotating phase of said rotary head;and (d) discriminating means for outputting a plurality binary signalswhich respectively indicate a recording condition of each of at leasttwo of said plurality of areas according to outputs of said first andsecond detection means one level of said binary signals indicating thatsaid information signals are recorded, another level of said binarysignals indicating that said information signals are not recorded.
 2. Anapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for mixing areference signal of a predetermined frequency value with saidinformation signals to be recorded by said head means.
 3. An apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein said first detection means includes adetection circuit which detects said reference signal included insignals produced from said rotary head.
 4. An apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein said reference signal is arranged to be of a frequencyvalue lower than a carrier frequency of said information signals.
 5. Anapparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:mixing means formixing pilot signals of a plurality of different frequency values withsaid information signals to be recorded by said head means; and controlmeans for controlling the position: of said head means and that of saidmedium relative to each other by using said pilot signals included insignals produced from said head means.
 6. An apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein the frequency of said reference signal is lower than acarrier frequency of said information signals and differs from any ofthe different frequency values of said pilot signals.
 7. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said first detection means includes adetection circuit which is arranged to detect a carrier wave of saidinformation signals included in an output of said head means.
 8. Anapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:mixing means formixing pilot signals of different frequency values with informationsignals to be recorded by said heads means; and control means forcontrolling the position of said head means and that of said mediumrelative to each other by using said pilot signals included in thesignals produced by said head means.
 9. An apparatus according to claim8, wherein said first detection means includes a detection circuit whichis arranged to detect at least one of said pilot signals of saiddifferent frequency values included in an outputs, of said head means.10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said information signalsare either first information signals including video information orsecond information signals not including video information; and saidfirst detection means includes a detection circuit which is arranged toat least partially detect said video information.
 11. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising display means which is arrangedto simultaneously make a display which indicates whether or not saidinformation signals are recorded in at least two of said plurality ofareas on the basis of said plurality of binary signals output by saiddiscriminating means.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid information signals include time-base compressed audio signals. 13.An apparatus comprising to claim 1, wherein said discriminating meansincludes a first circuit which is arranged to produce a discriminatingsignal which indicates whether said information signals are recorded ornot in said plurality of areas in a time sharing manner.
 14. Anapparatus according to claim 13, further comprising detection meansarranged to detect the rotation phase of said rotary head; and whereinsaid discriminating means further includes a second circuit arranged toform said plurality of binary signals by using an output signal of saiddetection means and said discrimination signal.
 15. A rotary head typerecording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising(a) transducing meansincluding two rotary heads of different magnetizing directions, saidrotary heads being arranged to record and/or reproduce informationsignals individually in or from a plurality of parallel areas of atape-shaped recorded bearing medium extending in the longitudinaldirection of said medium by tracing said medium in such a ay as toobliquely traverse and said plurality of parallel areas; (b) detectionmeans for detecting a signal which is included in signals produced bysaid transducing means and is of a sufficiently low frequency value tobe unaffected by the difference in the magnetizing direction betweensaid rotary heads; and (c) discriminating means for outputting aplurality of binary signals which respectively indicate a recordingcondition of each of at least two of said plurality of areas on thebasis of an output of said detection means, one level of said binarysignals indicating that said information signals are recorded, anotherlevel of said binary signals indicating that said information signalsare not recorded.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, furthercomprising display means arranged to simultaneously make a display whichindicates whether said information signals are recorded or not in atleast two of said plurality of areas on the basis of said plurality ofbinary signals output by said discriminating means.
 17. An apparatusaccording to claim 15, further comprising mixing means which is arrangedto mix a reference signal of a predetermined frequency value with saidinformation signals to be recorded by said transducing means.
 18. Anapparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detection means includes adetection circuit which is arranged to detect a component of the signalsproduced by said transducing means representing said reference signalwithin the signals.
 19. A rotary head type recording and/or reproducingapparatus, comprising:(a) a rotary head for recording and/or reproducinginformation signals individually in or from a plurality of parallelareas extending in the longitudinal direction of a tape-shaped recordbearing medium, said head being arranged to trace said medium in such amanner as to obliquely traverse said plurality of areas; (b) designatingmeans for designating one of said plurality of areas; (c) reproducingmeans for reproducing said information signal by using signals producedby the rotary head from said area designated by said designating means;and (d) discriminating means for outputting a binary signal whichindicates a recording condition of one of said plurality of areas otherthan said designated area by using signals produced by said rotary headduring the operation of said reproducing means, one level of said binarysignal indicating that said information signals are recorded, anotherlevel of said binary signals indicating that said information signalsare not recorded.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 19, furthercomprising display means which is arranged to make a display whichindicates whether said information signals are recorded or not in atleast two of said plurality of areas on the bias of said binary signaloutput by said discriminating means.
 21. An apparatus according to claim19, further comprising:mixing means for mixing pilot signals ofdifferent frequency values with said information signals to be recordedby said rotary head; and control means which is arranged to control theposition of said head and that of said medium relative to each other byusing said pilot signals included in the output of said rotary headobtained from said designated area.
 22. A rotary head type recordingand/or reproducing apparatus, comprising:(a) transducing means includinga pair of rotary heads which are arranged to record and/or reproduceinformation signals individually in or from a plurality of parallelareas of a tape-shaped record bearing medium extending in thelongitudinal direction of said medium by alternately tracing said mediumin such a way as to obliquely traverse said plurality of parallel areas;(b) reproducing means for reproducing said information signals recordedin one of said plurality of areas by alternately using signals producedby said pair of rotary heads; and (c) discriminating means foroutputting a plurality of binary signals which respectively indicate arecording condition of each of at least two of said plurality of areasby using only signals produced by one of said pair of rotary heads, onelevel of said binary signals indicating that said information signalsare recorded, another level of said binary signals indicating that saidinformation signals are not recorded.
 23. An apparatus according toclaim 22, wherein said pair of rotary heads have their magnetizingdirections relative to their tracing direction different from eachother.
 24. An apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising mixingmeans for mixing a reference signal with said information signals to berecorded by said pair of rotary heads, said reference signal being of afrequency value sufficiently low not to be affected by the differencebetween the magnetizing directions of said heads.
 25. An apparatusaccording to claim 24, wherein said discriminating means includes adetection circuit which is arranged to detect said reference signalincluded in the output of one of said pair of rotary heads.